Celia+Roberts


 * SUMMARY: Celia Roberts, age 20, died on July 24, 1931 after an abortion perpetrated in Raleigh, North Carolina by amateur abortionist Sophie Layton.**

Mrs. Sophie Layton of Raleigh, North Carolina, was sentenced to five years for the abortion death of 20-year-old Miss Celia Roberts of Granville County.

Celia had gone to Raleigh in July of 1931 for an abortion, which was perpetrated on July 22. She was taken to a hospital in Oxford, where she died on July 24 after naming Layton as her abortionist.

A Justice of the Peace, I. E. Harris, was arrested "on charges of advising and procuring the operation." He turned state's evidence and identified Layton as the abortionist -- though on her deathbed Celia had sworn that Harris had nothing to do with her situation.

Another man, whose ties to the events I have been unable to determine, also testified that Layton went into Celia's room the night of the abortion.
 * "Improperly Worded Judgment is Found in Langley's Case", //Greensoro (NC) Daily News//, Jun. 15, 1933
 * "Mrs. Layton Goes on Trial on Charge of Manslaughter," //Greensboro (NC) Daily News//, Jan. 14, 1933
 * "Mrs. Layton Enters Prison to Start Serving Sentence," //Greensboro Daily News//, Jul. 6, 1933
 * "Woman is Arrested for Death of Girl," //Greensboro Daily News//, Oct. 8, 1931
 * Death certificate